Scottish cyclist in peak form

Published on Wednesday 17 June 2009 22:07

A SCOT who is cycling the longest mountain range in the world has reached the summit of North America's highest peak.

Mark Beaumont, who became the fastest man to cycle round the world, climbed 20,320ft (6,194m) Mount McKinley.

It was the first major challenge on his eight-month mission to cycle the American Cordillera, a mountain range stretching from Alaska to Argentina.

He set off from Anchorage on 29 May and will cycle to the southern-most tip of Argentina, also scaling the highest peak in South America on the way.

Beaumont, 26, holds the world record for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe by bicycle, covering 18,296 miles in 194 days 17 hours. He beat the previous record by 81 days last February.

The cyclist, from Perthshire, swapped the saddle for hiking boots for the 15-day walk to Mount McKinley's summit. He battled blizzards to reach the top on the final day yesterday.

He said: "After ten hours spent fighting towards the top, with blue sky all day, we were suddenly faced with a massive snowstorm as we approached the summit. We crossed a narrow arete with a drop of thousands of feet an either side, with little visibility due to the blizzard.

"If it hadn't been for the marker at the top, which shows the altitude, I wouldn't have known where I was. It was epic. It was the scariest mountaineering I have ever done. As far as an adventure, it was everything I could have hoped for.

"I love it up here, don't get me wrong, but I'm quite looking forward to being back on my bike."

It took Beaumont 15 hours and 45 minutes to climb from high camp, at 17,200ft (5,243m), to the summit and back again.

Beaumont now heads for the Canadian border for the next stage of his journey, which will take him through 15 countries.